THE East Kingston Police have charged a fifth suspect as investigations continue into the brutal gun slayings of seven people, including a four-month-old baby and a nine-year-old boy, in the volatile community of Rockfort, St Andrew on October 5 last year.

Charged with three counts of murder is 18-year-old Christopher Bryan of Glasspole Avenue, Kingston 2. Bryan was taken into custody on January 20 following a police operation in Bedward Gardens, August Town, Kingston 7, and was formally charged last Friday. It was not immediately clear for which of the seven murders he has been charged.

Meanwhile, three men, Kenroy Cole, 27-year-old Jermaine ‘Rat’ Currie, and 25-year-old Stephen ‘Buju’ McCarty, all of Kingston 2 addresses, were arrested following a police operation at Bay View Crescent, Bull Bay on October 8. And following a police operation in Mandeville some time afterwards, a fourth man, 20-year-old Marvin ‘Bengay’ Blake was arrested by the Manchester Police. All have subsequently been charged with murder.

Just before 3:30 am on October 5 last year, gunmen went to 12 Norman Crescent in Rockfort and kicked off the door to a room in the tenement dwelling at the premises and opened fire on four-month-old Lorna J Hurd, her 18-year-old mother Shaneta Smith and her father, 27-year-old Marlon Hurd – killing all three.

According to residents, the gunmen then went to the home of 19-year-old Christina Brian and her mother, Violet Williams, pulled them both from their beds and shot them several times. Both died on the spot.

The marauding gunmen then went to 12 La Cruise Road, where they kicked off the door to a house and killed 70-year-old Joanne Richardson and her nine-year-old grandson, Mutumbo Thomas.